Pilote des Iles Britanniques

Paris: Dépot général de la Marine, 1757. DÉPOT GÉNÉRAL DE LA MARINE. . Le Pilote des Iles Britanniques, publié d'aprés les ordres du Contre-Amiral Decrés, Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies. Par le Dépot général de la Marine. [Paris, 1757-1804].

Large folio (25 1/2 x 20 inches; 640 x 505 mm). Atlas containing thirty-two charts, thirty of which are double-page, the first of which is folding. Letterpress title and table of plates.

Modern half calf over marbled boards. Spine ruled in gilt. Black calf spine label, lettered in gilt. Charts mounted on stubs. Title-page and table of plates with a bit of smudging. Some toning to backsides of the charts, due to the use of mounting adhesive, not affecting front side of the charts. A few charts with professionally repaired small closed tears, most of which are marginal and barely affecting the charts, if at all. Some old ink and pencil notes on blank backsides of the charts. Overall a very nice copy.

Charts after Bellin, John Knight, Hamilton Moore, Stuart Amos Arnold corrected by MacKenzie, Joseph Huddart and others.

"As with the Neptune François, this volume was made up from the charts available to the French Admiralty. They range in date over half a century, from those complied by J.-N Bellin to charts of England's south coast harbours, prepared by Napoleon. There are two general charts of the North Atlantic followed by detailed charts covering the whole of the British Isles (particularly places of strategic importance such as the Isle of Wright, Portsmouth, Torbay and Plymouth)." (Sotheby's).

HBS 65706.

$8,500.